Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-08-20

Indians as the most sacred of all sacred
places, and it is carefully guarded by at
tendants whose duty it is to see that the
sacred fire which has been kept burning
for centuries in the little fire hole in tho
centre necer dies.
After time spent in viewing the IL
Illuminated scenes about the plaza, my
guide took me into the house, where ]
was introduced to the family. Each
member stepped forward and shook
hands. A sheepskin was placed upon
the ground for me to sit upon. One
corner of the room was furnished
with fireplace, another was filed by
q large, wide-mouthed earthen jar, hold
ing over half barrel. This was used as
a flour barrel, A lot of bedding in the
shape of wildcat, goat and sheepskins lay
in the opposite corner. Several jars for
holding water stood about the room. The
ground was made hard and smooth with
q layer Of adobe A bundle of herbs and
roots and several strings of red peppers
hung from the walls. A Mexican OF
Pueblo Indian would about as soon be
cut off from his -four as from his red and
green peppers. The green ones they eat
as we would an apple, and little later
in the season the sunny side of every
house will be hung with festoons Of pep
pers.
These Indians do not occupy reserva-
ton. They are entitled to vote at the
Territorial elections, but owing to their
fear of taxation, they never exercise this
right. They are all amenable to the
laws of the Territory, yet it is an histori-
cal fact that no Pueblo Indian has ever
been brought up for punishment under
the Territorial laws. and they have never
had recourse to these laws for the setts.
ment of any trouble among themaelyes.
The land belonging to this tribe is owned
in common, but t! Governor and Coun-
ell make division of it. giving to the
head of each family what, in their judg-
ment, his circumstances will enable him
to care for When the crops arc harvested.
instead of each having his own, tho
crops, or their proceeds, go into general
pool, and the Governor distributes ac-
cording to the destitut;op. abilities and
needs of cach family. II man deserts
his family and refuses to a7s;st in their
support, the Governor immediately
takes his land and ali dividends
away from Lin, and he IL allowed no
rights in the tribe until lie returns TO his
family. A nan with more than one
squaw is the exception not the rule
among these Indians. In dress they
somewhat resemble the Navajo, but in
their ways, their disposition, and their
whole manner of living, they are to-
tally different from the Novajo, the Ute,
the Apache, or any other rowing bands
whom they ever came in contact with.
They are just what their name signifies
pueblo means town. They are town
Indians, and they live rs town people
should, industriously, lawfully and peace
ably. They never rove about in search
of blood and conquest, and about the
only instance ever known Of their acting
on the offensive was when in 1850 they
rose in justifable rebellion against the
Spanish rule and drove the invaders from
the country. At that time they were
wrought up to such pitch that they
performed acts of bloodshcd and cruelty
after the custom of the rowing tribes.
The Apaches and Navajos have ever
waged bitter warfare against them, but
they seldom fought exceptin the defence
of their homes. The location and con-
struction of their Pueblos up to the present
day shows how completely they sacrificed
every comfort and convenience to the
one idea of having an impregnable fortress
of defence.